Machine for bending or pressing plates.



J. DREWES.

MACHINE FOR BENDING 0R PRESSING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a. 1916.

1,261,792., Patented Apr. 9,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Johan n a"; Dr evv5.

I V67) for by LWWW .I. DREWES.

MACHINE FOR BENDING 0R PRESSING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13. 1916.

1,261,792. Patented Apr. 9, 1918;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- .fo/lan w s fi/aues 1 ham/W J. DREWES.

MACHINE FOR BENDI NG 0R PRESSING PLATES.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT. 13. 1916.

1,261,792. Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J'Q HANNES DBEWES, 0F GIDEON, NEAR GRbNINGEN, NETHERLANDS.

MACHINE FOB, BENDING QR PBESSING PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 19 18.

Application filed September 13, 1916. Serial N 0. 119,950.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JormNNns Drnwns, shipbuilder, residing at Gideon, near Groningen, the Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Bending or Pressing Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for bending and form-ing metal sheets or plates and is particularly intended for use in forming the plates or sheets which are employed in the construction of the bulls of ships in the region of the stern frame. The bending of these plates has presented considerable diiiiculty, owing to the peculiar shape thereofand the chief object of the invention is to provide a machine of a simple character which will enable such bending and forming operation to be readily effected.

According to the present invention, the machine for bending plates comprises two blocks whose faces are not parallel, z. 6. one pressing block being adapted to reciprocate, and one counterpressing block located without the plane ,of motion of the pressing block, while the plate to be bent is fed between the two bending blocks at about right angles to the said plane of motion.

The advantageous features of such a machine are self-evident. In the first place it allows of the plates being treated while being cold, so that no furnaces are required for heating and annealing, and in the second place the plates may be given any desired form simply by adjusting the blocks, which may be done during the pressing operations, thus saving time and wages.

'The accompanying drawing shows one embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, Figure 1 being a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a plate arranged between the pressure and countenpressure blocks of the machine.

Figs. 4:, 5 and 5 are diagrammatic representations of different sections of the plate at successive steps of the operation.

In Figs. .6, '7 and 8 is shown in perspective a curved keel produced by the improved machine.

The block a is suitably secured to the slide 6 which by means of a screw spindle c with handwheel a" is adapted to be moved in the direction of the axis of the machine. The said blocko has a rounded face which makes a predetermined angle with the vertical plane.

A second block (Z whose face is preferably vertical is suitablysecured to the slide f, adapted to reciprocate in the direction of the axis of the machine; a rib cl on the back of the block (Z engages a horizontal cross groove f of the slide f, a screw spindle 6 serving the purpose of adjusting the position of the block d in a direction at right angles to its plane of motion. According to the drawing the slide f is adapted to be reciprocated by a mechanism, comprising the pulley g, the Worm h, the worm wheel i, the eccentrics 7c, 70 and the connecting rods Z, Z secured to the slide f by means of bolts m. The machine further comprises two supporting blocks n, a each being adapted to be adjusted by means of a screw spindle and a handwheel, rollers 0, 0 for guiding the work piece, a gap 79 in the bed of the machine, and a lever t for throwing the machine in or out of gear, 6. g. by means of a clutch coupling s. The blocks n, n are pro.- vided with rounded faces which are prefer,- ably disposed parallel with the surface of the pressure block 0?.

The work piece or plate is placed in a vertical position on the roller 0 so that its front portion is opposite the block a. The machine is now thrown into gear by means of the clutch coupling 8 and the lever 25, after which the slide f slowly travels forward, its stroke being normally about 1% inch. First the bottom portion'of the plate will be pressed between the bending blocks a and d and jammed against the support.- ing block n, the further movement of the slide f causing the said portion to be forced to the left (Fig. 2) by the block (Z. The plate is hereby slightly thinned by pressure between the blocks a and (Z, and extended or stretched beyond its elastic limit, first along its bottom edge, but on the further motion of the block al also gradually higher, so that on the backward stroke of the block d the plate shows a fold, the radius of curvation of which increases in the direction from bottom to top, and becomes infinity at a certain distance from the top edge, depending upon the required final shape of the plate.

The operation will be more clearly understood by referring to Figs. 3 to 5. inclusive. Fig. 3 shows the plate or work arranged between the pressure block (Z and the counterpressure block. a at the beginning of the operation, and the plate after the successive pressing operations is adapted to be displaced in the direction of the arrow.

5 On the first forward stroke of the block (Z, the foot of said block will first engage the bottom edge of the plate and cause same to be bent about the block a as a kind of fulcrum; the upper portions of the plate remain unchanged, owing to the stiffness or rigidity of the plate. However, as the block cZ moves forward, its facewill gradually engage the upper portions of the plate and cause same to be bent in a similar manner,

whereby at the end of the first forward stroke the right hand portion of the plate will have been bent so that the radius of curvature gradually increases in the direction from the bottom to the top edge owing to the inclination of the face of block at with respect to that of block (Z. In order that this may be well understood, reference; is had toFig. 4:, illustrating the form-of the bottom edge GG and the sections F-F,

E-E etc. of the plate as indicated in Fig. 3 after the first forward stroke of the block d. As will be seen, the sections CC, BB and the upper edge A-A have remained unchanged as they have not been engaged between the blocks. V

' After the pressure block d has moved backward, the plate is longitudinally displaced through a distance approximately equal to the lateral distance between the faces of the blocks a and d to assume the position shown in Fig. 5, the portions of the bottom edge and of the lower sections as previously bent being shown in broken lines. 7 If now the lower portion of the 40 block 01 at its next forward stroke engages the bottom edge GG of the plate, the existing bend in this edge will bepressed away or neutralized, and the edge will then be bent about the block a as a kind of fulcrum, whereby another fold or bend will be produced and the bottom edge will assume the form shown in full lines in Fig. 5.

In a similar way, as the reciprocating block d moves forward, the fold previously made in the sections F--F, EE, and D-D will be pressed away or neutralized, and further folds made therein.

After the pressure block d has again moved backward and the sheet is longitudinally displaced the necessary distance in the direction of the arrow, then on the third forward stroke of said block the same operation will be repeated; reference is had to Fig. 5 showing the form of the different sections as produced during the second stroke in full lines, and the form as will be produced by the third forward stroke in broken lines.

' During the first strokes of the movable block cl the supporting block a has no function to perform; only after the plate or sheet has been fed a certain distance through. the. machine, and, theplate moved so far that it 'can contact with said support-- ing block, will the block serve to guide the work piece and prevent same from receiving an undesired swinging motion.

When the operation is proceeded with as stated above the plate will be curved in a given direction. By changing the relative positions of the pressure and counter pressure blocks, 0. g. by placing blockdjin the position d indicated by dotted lines (in Fig. 2) the direction ofthe curvature of the plate is changed. The block n" is used 30 for supporting the plates when theblock'd is in the position 01. .ii 1

B varying the inclination of the faceof block a or block 0! andaxially moving the block a by means of the hand wheel 1', or 5 by giving the face of block a a suitable hollow or otherwise curved f0rm, I can press the lates in any form required.

aving now particularly described ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be per-' formed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A machine of the kind described, comprising a reciprocable pressure block. and a counter pressure block arranged 21.-Ll1OI't 95 distance outside the plane of movement of said pressure block and having its, face inclined to that of the pressure block and coacting therewith to impart a graduated transverse thinning and longitudinal curvature to a plate intermittently fed between said blocks.

2. A machine of the kind described,1comprising a reciprocable pressure block,v a counter pressure block arranged a. ShOItiTdlS- tance outside the plane of movement of said pressure block and having its face inclined to that of the pressure block and coacting therewith to impart a graduated transverse thinning and longitudinal curvature to a plate intermittently fed between said blocks, and means for adjusting the reciprocable pressure block in a direction at right angles to its plane of movement.

3. A machine of the kind described, comprising a reciprocable pressure block, a counter pressure block arranged a short distance outside the plane of movement of said pressure block and having its {face inclined to that of the pressure block" and coacting therewith to impart a graduated transverse thinning and longitudinal curya ture to a plate intermittently fed between said blocks and means for supportingthe work in a stationary position while it is being pressed by the aforesaid pressure and counter-pressure blocks. 7 V

4. A machine of the kind described, com prising a reciprocable pressure block, a counter-pressure block arranged at a short 1'30 transverse thinning and longitudinal curvagaged between the pressure and counterpressure blocks.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

J OHANNES DREWES.

distance outside the plane of movement of said pressure block and having its face inclined to that of the pressure block and coaeting therewith to impart a graduated Witnesses:

L. CRIJJAUSEN, P. W. K. VAN DER TENN.

ture to a plate intermittently fed between said blocks, and an adjustable block for supporting the Work piece While it is en- Gepfiea M 8m patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

